2x2 Doubles
Balanced — two eligible receivers each side.
The most common formation in football: two receivers to each side, usually with a back in the backfield. Balance forces the defense to declare honestly — there's no strength to rotate to and nowhere to hide.
What it does to the defense
Forces honest defense. Cover 3 and Cover 1 give you true 1-on-1s outside; Cover 2 and Cover 4 safeties have to stay home. Motion from 2x2 is the cleanest man/zone tell in football — there's no bunch traffic confusing the read.
How each scheme uses it
Air Raid
Mesh and shallow crossers love 2x2 — the defense can't roll to a side. Four verticals gets true 1-on-1s outside vs single-high.
West Coast
Drive and curl-flat work to both sides. Quick game answers pressure, and the back is in the protection if they bring it.
Power Run (Gap)
Run at the light box, then take the play-action shot when the safeties creep down. 2x2 keeps both safeties honest.
Wide Zone
Stretch plus bootleg — the bootleg side is always open because the defense can't over-rotate to it.
Spread Option
Zone read with balanced numbers: read the unblocked end, RPO to either side of him.
Vertical
Outside fades and deep posts get 1-on-1s vs single-high; seams split two-high safeties.